Wanaka's Recycle Centre
Wanaka Wastebusters (Wanaka's Recycle Centre) was set up by Wanaka's community in 1999, with a aim to work towards zero waste. They employ 35 people, have an income of over $1 million, and the profits go back to the community.They don't just recycle. They sell second-hand items such as clothing, dishes, books, electronics, exercise eqipment, and much, much more. And one of the cool things about Wanaka Wastebusters is that every time you go there you will find new stuff to see (or buy), because they're constantly changing and growing bigger!!!
(This is a homeschool project.)
Where is Wanaka?
Wanaka is located in Central Otago, on the South Island of New Zealand, 120 kilometres (74.5 miles) north-west of Queenstown. Wanaka is a small town, with a great atmosphere. We spend our winter's here and love it! The recycle centre is on the outskirts.
The Resale Shop
The resale shop sells a lot of cool stuff, and has an educational centre. This is where we met Simon, who told us a lot about the recycle centre. Thank You Simon!
Here are some pictures Sarah and Melissa took of the inside of the resale shop.
Wow they have a lot of stuff!
Dishes and fabric. This is not the full collection of dishes for sale.
I bet you wondered where the electronics I mentioned were
Shocking Landfill Fact
The highest point in Hamilton County, Ohio is "Mount Rumpke." Mount Rumpke is not an ordinary mountain. It's made of trash, and towers 1045 ft. above sea level !
Whats Your Opinion on Recycling?
Please join the debate
You don't need to be a Squidoo member to participate, but if you want to join, click here and you can join squidoo now.
Whats Your Opinion on Recycling?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byRecycling Rocks!! It's to cool to not be done!!
aj2008 says:
As someone who is married to a "landfill gas" expert, you dont have to convince me of the need to recycle as much as possible and keep it out of landfill!
Posted November 17, 2009
jennysue19 says:
recycling rocks! You Wanaka girls don't say if you also recycle kitchen waste to make compost. I do, and I grow veg and herbs - you don't need a huge plot, just a tiny area and some plant pots or recycle some food containers to grow in. When I lived in a flat in London I grew beans, herbs and tomatoes on my handkerchief size balcony! I didn't have a compost bin then, but I bought compost from my local recycling centre. That's another homeschool project for you - what will you grow?
Posted November 11, 2009
Nora Lavender says:
In our house Recycling is KING. Our 4 year old runs around yelling either, "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!" or "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind!" Thanks for this great page. Shalom Yehuda loves it!
Nora Lavender
Posted November 10, 2009
Linda says:
*Everything* metal, plastic, paper and glass that can possibly be recycled *should* be recycled.
Posted November 10, 2009
jptanabe says:
Recycling is all good! We're lucky that our village collects recycling for free (newspaper, cardboard, and comingled - plastic, glass, can) every week. We pay for trash collection so it's a real incentive to put all the recyclables in the right bins!
Posted November 09, 2009
ChapelHillFiddler says:
I live in a county where the landfills are pretty full and nobody wants them to build another, so we recycle very strictly. I have chickens, too, so I give them my scraps and throw almost nothing away. And I buy my clothes at the thrift store! So yes, I love recycling!
Posted November 09, 2009
Recycling stinks. Only wierd people recycle.
Spook says:
Just to be on the other side as that sides to long. Really can't stand litterbugs.
Posted November 21, 2009
Wanaka Wastebusters Needs Your Help!
So does the planet!
Wanaka Wastebusters need everyone in Wanaka to work towards reducing Wanaka's waste by 50%. Even if you don't live in Wanaka, click here to see a list of things you can do to reduce your waste. The Yard
The Yard is a place where other things are sold. Skis and snowboards, toilets, mattresses, exercise equipment, the list is almost endless.
Importantly, there are bins in which you can recycle different types of plastic, paper and polysyrene. There is also a truck that picks up recycling from your home and brings it here.
Recycle Bins for plastics
Recycle bins for paper, polystyrene and a whole bunch of other things!
Exercise Equipment sitting in the yard
Beds, chairs, and more of the exercise equipment
Bikes, Bath, and Beyond (including skiis and tyres)
The Recycling Tree - What is Recycled at Wanaka Wastebusters
Artwork by Sarah (age 9)
How much do you recycle?
Tell us the truth, don't lie, how much do you recycle?
Around the Back of the Recycle Center
This is where the recycling happens
Here is where they actually recycle stuff. Wanaka Wastebuter staff sort things into piles, squash them down, and the recyclable items gets shipped to other countries to be used. Recycled items are use in all sorts of places - check out this interesting fact on recycling:
Shocking recycle fact
If you've been to Otago, you might have noticed the footpaths sparkling. That's because they use crushed,
recycled glass. Some of them even use paint! Paint and glass them can strengthen and upgrade regular concrete.
Plastic waiting to be sorted
Sorting Plastics and metals
Getting Squashed (this is the cardboard)
All ready to be shipped
Recycle Quiz
The Information needed to answer this quiz correctly is all included in this page.
Do your part to help the enviroment and buy recycled things instead of using new materials
Be cool and buy Recycled!
The entire point of Wanaka Wastebusters is to recycle. Even though you might not be able to buy something from there, you can still buy environment-friendly stuff here!! Click on anything below for more information including purchase options.
Flip-Flop Doormat (Made from Recycled Sandals) Samll (15" x 25" x 5/8" thick)
Since it's a doormat made of recycled flip-flops (they're called jandals in New Zealand), this means that you're feet will be walking on shoes. Or maybe your shoe-clad feet- it all depends if you are wearing shoes or not!
Amazon Price: $32.00 (as of 01/01/2010) 
Zak Designs Confetti Assorted Brights Mixing Bowls, Set of 4
Those are pretty cool (reason one: they are awesome. Reason two: they won't be wasting as many resources when they are made, so buying them over other mixing bowls will help stop Global Warming). And they're pretty bright,too.
* This bowl set is made of 100% recycled melamine.
Amazon Price: $31.95 (as of 01/01/2010)
Small Recycled Tire Shoulder Bag
I wonder if this tire bag is made of a used tire. If it is, and you recycle you're tires, this could be you're tire!! And It looks great when you're using it.
Amazon Price: $24.00 (as of 01/01/2010)
HP Office Recycled White 8 1/2 x 11 Inch Paper 5000 Sheets (11210-0)
Why not buy this instead of another non-recycled paper? It is basically the same, except it is made of recycled paper, so it is better for the environment. That means you will be buying paper, same as usual, and you will be able to say you are doing you're part to save the enviroment.
Amazon Price: $57.88 (as of 01/01/2010)
Beads and Recycled Magazines Red Bracelet "Brazilian Bead Bonanza Bracelet [Red]"
What a beautiful bracelet! And it was probably a beautiful magazine, too!
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 01/01/2010)
What Do You Think of this Squidoo Lens?
(A question from mom)
Please Rate This Lens!
You also can tweet about it here:
- Rate this lens:
- Email it
- Favorite it
- Lensroll it
Comments!
Please let me know you visited. You do not need to be a Squidoo member to sign this guestbook. However, if you would like to join, click here and you can join squidoo now.
-
Reply
- OhMe OhMe Dec 27, 2009 @ 1:45 pm
- Wow, this is a major accomplishment and I think every town can learn something from Wanaka Wastebusters. Thank you for making this very interesting lens. I made 100 on the quiz so I definitely learned something.
-
Reply
- Spook Spook Nov 21, 2009 @ 3:58 am
- Something everybody needs to do. Blessed by an Angel.
-
Reply
- aj2008 aj2008 Nov 17, 2009 @ 8:03 am
- Now this is exactly the sort of schooling I wish they did nore of at school! An excellent "green" lens and Squid Angel Blessings for you.
-
Reply
- Heather426 Heather426 Nov 10, 2009 @ 9:19 pm
- Great job! 5* and ~blessed~
-
Reply
- Michal Michal Nov 10, 2009 @ 5:20 pm
- Fun lens. Don't you wish EVERYTHING could be reused, recycled or composted? I hate to put anything in the garbage.
-
Reply
- Mrs_R Mrs_R Nov 10, 2009 @ 12:00 am
- Great job - love your photos, and all the great information. Good job (as always)!
-
Reply
- psachs psachs Nov 9, 2009 @ 10:02 pm
- Great as usual. Congradulations.
-
Reply
- Jewelsofawe Jewelsofawe Nov 9, 2009 @ 9:25 pm
- I take cans and bottles to the store and get money for them. I recycle boxes and cardboard in a free recycle can provided by my trash company and picked up twice a month.
-
Reply
- jptanabe jptanabe Nov 9, 2009 @ 9:34 am
- Wow this is really great! Wonderful project on the Wanaka Wastebusters on such a great topic - recycling rocks!
-
Reply
- Sylvestermouse Sylvestermouse Nov 9, 2009 @ 7:52 am
- This is a fantastic homeschool project, or should I say projects. Can we in include writing the lens as a second project? Excellent project, excellent lens, excellent everything! Congratulations on the completion of a wonderful assignment in the Home of the Champions!
-
Reply
- LeanneChesser LeanneChesser Nov 9, 2009 @ 6:55 am
- Sarah, Melissa & Rhonda, this is an awesome, fun & educational lens! I love your homeschool project! You've done a great job. I got 100% on your quiz, too :).
-
Reply
- ChapelHillFiddler ChapelHillFiddler Nov 9, 2009 @ 5:18 am
- Hey, I love it! Your pictures are fabulous, I want to visit your recycling center but it's too far (I live in Chapel Hill, North Carolina). Great work on your first lens! And what an important topic. Congratulations.
-
Reply
- Pukeko Pukeko Nov 9, 2009 @ 12:37 am
- Great Job Girls! Mom is really proud of you.
A Bit About Pukeko
This lens was actually written by my girls, Melissa and Sarah, under my supervision.
Lensmaster Pukeko has been a member since May 17 2009, has rated 864 lenses, favorited 755, and has created 116 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "Best of Make Me Laugh - Top 10 Funniest Zazzle Designs of 2009". See all my lenses
Meet My Girls - the True Authors of this Page
-
Sarah Albom
-
Skiing fascinates me. I am amazed at how graceful athletes can appear when zipping down the slopes, or flying through the air. I watched my 9 year old daughter Sarah in silent wonderment. Over the past few years we have become a snowsports family. W...
-
Melissa Albom - Snowboarder
-
Bigger, higher, faster – 11 year old Melissa Albom loves snowboarding! Strap a board to her feet and Melissa is happy. Her happiness resonates in her riding. She is a two times New Zealand jr. national snowboard champion and was the youngest pe...
See Where Our Visitors Are From
by Pukeko
Click here for my story or meet my girls, Melissa - snowboarder and... (more)
Explore related pages
10 Things you can Recycle that you Didn't Know About- You already know how to recycle the basics, like bottles, cans, cardboard and pa...
Where to Buy Recycled Christmas Cards...- If you're looking for ways to reduce your environmental impact this holiday...
50 WAYS TO GO GREEN - This image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 Lic...
Everything New Zealand - a NZ Lensography- New Zealand is home to nearly 4.3 million people and 40 million sheep. It is our...
Puzzling World, New Zealand's Unique Puzzling and Illusion Museum- When you first see the 'Leaning Tower of Wanaka' greeting you to Stuart Landsbor...
Where Does the Salt Go? - Science Experiment on Evaporation- Using a simple method of distillation, you can make ocean water safe to drink. A...
